Apple beats analyst estimates for second-quarter earnings

Even in a quarter that saw no product introductions, Apple boosted its sales and profits over the previous year. The company released its fiscal second-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, reporting revenue of $45.6 billion and a net profit of $10.2 billion.

Even in a quarter that saw no product introductions, Apple boosted its sales and profits over the previous year. The company released its fiscal second-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, reporting revenue of $45.6 billion and a net profit of $10.2 billion.

Those numbers were up from the second quarter of 2014, when Apple tallied $43.6 billion in revenue and $9.5 billion in net profit.

For the 2014 second quarter, Apple earned $11.62 a share, a 15 percent jump from the $10.09 a share the company earned in the year-ago quarter.

Both revenue and earnings topped analyst expectations. Wall Street was looking for Apple to report sales of $43.55 billion and earnings of $10.17 a share for the January-to-March quarter.

While Apple showed year-over-year growth, its numbers were down from the fiscal first quarter of 2014. Of course, that sequential comparison should take into account that Apple's first quarter includes the lucrative holiday shopping season.